DoorDash Review | Is it Legit or a Scam?

Ordering food online has become a thing of today. The main reason why ordering food online has become successful is due to the convenience that it offers. Hectic schedules provide hardly any spare time to cook and shop for groceries. Online food delivery accounted for a 42% share in the total food delivery market in 2017 and has the potential to grow further.

A food menu available online is easier to manage for owners as the food dishes can be displayed with additional information if any. A consumer will also find it easier to choose their favorite dishes and the quantities in which they are required. One such easy-to-use app is DoorDash. Their motto is to deliver the good of everything.

About DoorDash

DoorDash is an on-demand food delivery app founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco. It was founded by Stanford students Andy Fang, Stanley Tang, Tony Xu and Evan Moore. It has expanded its reach to about 600 cities in the US and Canada, 110,000 restaurants with 40,000,000+ deliveries since its inception.

Besides establishing its core business in California, Seattle and Minneapolis, it also operates in important cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Denver Atlanta and Houston. They believe in delivering good to all – consumers, network partners, merchants and investors. It is currently funded by reputed investors like Sequoia, CRV, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Khosla Ventures and SV Angels.

How it Works

DoorDash provides an on-order delivery service to consumers by taking the help of third-party logistics service providers. They start their deliveries from 8 am and continue up to 11 pm depending on your locality and local restaurant service hours.

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Service Features

While DoorDash works to serve existing and new consumers, it is constantly on the lookout for new network partners and merchants. In this section, we will explore the features provided by DoorDash from a consumer and a business partner’s view.

Network Partner Segment

A great delivery service is not possible without the backing of a strong logistics team and business partners. DoorDash provides an opportunity for people to become a part of their team by becoming a Dasher or to restaurants to make it big by becoming a business partner.

How to Become a Dasher

The process of becoming a Dasher is extremely streamlined and people above 18 years of age can sign up. You should own either an Android phone or an iPhone and should volunteer your social security number. After clearing the background check done by DoorDash, you are given a basic training related to Dashing and are provided with some operational gear and merchandise to start delivering the orders that you receive on your app.

Payment Pattern

DoorDash pays its Dashers per delivery and 100% of the tips received on their behalf. The payments are done on a weekly basis and it takes 2-3 days days for the payment to reflect in your bank account. Taxes are not deducted from your pay as you are expected to pay your own taxes dutifully. A Dasher can also qualify for Guaranteed Earnings if they stick to a certain set of rules defined by the company.

Perks

As a Dasher, you can receive the benefit of Stride, an effort taken up by DoorDash in collaboration with Stride Health to provide affordable health insurance benefit to its Dashers. If you use a car to deliver, you are encouraged to use the Everlance app that helps to keep a track of mileage, expenses and income and helps you save money while paying your income tax. In case your work timings are not fixed and you need payment on a daily basis then you can avail the same using DailyPay.

Partner Restaurants

Restaurant owners can create an awareness about their offering and increase their revenues by partnering up with DoorDash. If you own a food joint and are keen to get listed, you can sign up by registering your business and store location. Once formalities with the sales team are successful, your restaurant will be featured on the app!

You can also avail the DoorDash Drive facility which allows restaurants to request Dashers to deliver their dishes.

Consumer Segment

In this segment, we will be covering the services that DoorDash offers to its consumers along with the features that make it a big hit among the masses.

Placing Orders

Like any other food delivery app, DoorDash also offers a mobile app that is functional on Android and iOS systems. Additionally, you can also order by signing up on their website. You can search for restaurants that deliver to your area by entering your delivery location.

The company also accepts bulk orders and catering requests. Bulk orders are generally given for a large group such as a team lunch at an office or a company dinner. DoorDash has also formed specific catering tie-ups with restaurants to help you be the perfect host when you throw a party.

Order Management

An exhaustive procedure is followed to ensure that you get ample time to rectify or change your order after placing it. An order can be changed or canceled before it is processed by a restaurant. If you wish to alter the delivery address then you can do so before your food is picked up from the restaurant. Additionally, you can also put in meal specifications in the ‘Special Instructions’ box provided while you place an order.

DoorDash provides the convenience of ordering from different food joints at the same time but you will be required to pay additional delivery charges. For example, if you order from two restaurants at a given time then you will need to pay two delivery fees.

Delivery Process

Once you place an order, DoorDash dispatches it to the restaurant you ordered from. While the restaurant processes your order, DoorDash assigns a Dasher to pick up your order from the restaurant and deliver it to your doorstep. The entire process of getting the food ready and delivering it is attempted to be completed within an hour so that you can have a hot and fresh meal while you dine at home, office or at a friend’s place. You will be required to show an identity proof to your Dasher at the time of collecting the order.

DoorDash uses the latest algorithm-based technology to determine the approximate delivery time for the orders placed by you. You can also check your estimated scheduled delivery during checkout. The delivery time shown during check-out is more accurate since it also takes into account the quantity of food ordered by you.

You are also provided with an option to schedule a future delivery. By using this option, you can order your food up to four days in advance. This option does not require any special requests. You are expected to proceed with the order as you would for a normal delivery and simply select your desired delivery date and time during checkout.

Unique Service Offerings

DoorDash has a way of attracting consumers by offering some great service deliverables. One such feature is that of a group order. A group order allows multiple people to choose and add their dishes collectively in a single cart. This is very convenient to use if you are having friends or guests at home and wish to have a simple and single food order list without having to to manage multiple orders. This feature is only available on their official website currently.

The DoorDash ‘Delight’ score is another salient feature offered by the company. This feature helps in recommending great food and service qualities to you by scoring parameters such as delivery quality, customer feedback, restaurant popularity on a scale of 0 to 10.

DoorDash Credit is a referral program designed for you to invite your friends to try their services. You will receive a $7 credit everytime a friend signs up. These credits can be used while placing orders.

A DashPass subscription will make you eligible for a free delivery on orders above the stated minimum amount. You can pay for this subscription on a monthly or yearly basis.

Payment Process

Pricing is very simple and clear. The total cost of your order would be calculated by adding together the cost of food ordered by you, the relevant taxes and a delivery fee. You also have the option to tip your Dasher. The delivery fees differ in different areas and the same is displayed to you before you place your order.

Customer Support

DoorDash’s customer support policies are quite friendly. They are available to help and can be contacted through their website or app. They have also provided a list of FAQs and delivery related help topics on their website. Additionally, they also welcome feedback and suggestions from consumers.

DoorDash Pros

For Consumers

The app is easy to use.

Order and delivery processes are streamlined.

Offers many unique service offerings like group orders and DoorDash ‘Delight’.

The payment process is done online and is secure.

Orders can be tracked easily.

Customer service team is friendly and effective in solving queries.

For Dashers

Incentives given to Dashers are quite attractive.

Enrolling to become a Dasher is not time-consuming.

Using a car to deliver food is not mandatory.

Dashers can benefit by using Stride – an affordable insurance solution.

Restaurant partners can get their food delivered by requesting Dashers.

DoorDash Cons

For Consumers

Does not offer gift cards at the moment.

For Dashers

Use of an Android phone or an iPhone is compulsory to sign up as a Dasher.

Dashing Ahead of Queues

DoorDash’s philosophy is delivering good in everything – good flavors, good experiences, good times, good opportunities and goodwill. It is a great service that you can avail without having to read between the lines.